Calif. city proposes citizen-police surveillance program

Councilman is proposing the city create a database where citizens who have surveillance systems can help police

By Kris Sanchez
NBC Bay Area

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A San Jose councilman is proposing the city create a database where citizens who have surveillance systems can help police.

When officers were tracking down a serial arsonist, people readily offered up their surveillance video to help. Councilman Sam Liccardo wants to formalize the process through a database he said would be simple to set up and maintain.

"This doesn't expand police access to video," he said. "It just identifies for the police where the systems are should people want to come forward and identify their systems."